After School Tutoring Program
State Student Proficiency Standards
There are five levels of student achievement on California Standards Tests (CSTs): Advanced Proficient, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic, and Far Below Basic. Students performing at Below Basic and Far Below Basic levels are given individualized attention in the classroom. Students performing at Advanced Proficient and Proficient levels meet state standards and are supported by the general curriculum. Left behind are those students performing at the Basic level who therefore do not meet state reading standards. Longfellow Elementary has set an aggressive goal with the students performing at the Basic level: move 50% of these students to the Proficient level within a school year.
The Demonstrated Success of Longfellow’s After-School Tutoring Program
Longfellow Elementary has had an After-School Tutoring Program in place for students performing at the Basic level on the CST’s in both English Language for many years. Because of shrinking budgets, the After-School Tutoring Program has been scaled back and this year will reach a maximum of 60 students over the course of the school year. This is particularly disappointing as there is quantifiable evidence demonstrating the success of the After-School Tutoring Program.
For example, during the 2007-08 school year, Longfellow Elementary enrolled to the After-School Tutoring Program 70 of the 120 in grades three through five who scored at the Basic level in English Language on the 2007 CST’s. During two eight week sessions, ten classroom teachers taught reading to the 70 enrolled students.
In the year following their participation in the After-School Tutoring Program, 40% of the 70 students scored at Proficient or Advanced Proficient in English Language. Another 52% of the 70 students made measurable gains on their test scores, but remained at the Basic level. On the other hand, of the 50 students scoring at Basic level in English Language on the 2007 CST’s who did not participate in the tutoring program, only 20% improved their English Language performance to Proficient or Advanced Proficient.
The Future of the After-School Tutoring Program
Longfellow Elementary is dedicated to improving achievement among all of its students. The After-School Tutoring Program is essential to this mission. However, the loss of Title I and state funds has led to a significantly reduced scope for the After-School Tutoring Program. At its 2007-08 level, the After-School Tutoring Program cost $40,000 annually. This school year, Longfellow has available only $20,000 to allocate to the After-School Tutoring Program, which means that it will be scaled back further to include fewer teachers and to reach only 60 students over the course of the school year. More alarmingly, recent budget freezes have halted the program altogether. As well as leaving no funding in the 2009-10 budget for the After-School Tutoring Program.
Longfellow Legacy Foundation is dedicated to retaining and expanding Longfellow’s After-School Tutoring Program. This proven program is vital to continued individual and overall academic success at Longfellow Elementary.